Sunday: August 13

THE HOME SHOW

The Kiwi dream of owning your own home seems harder than it’s ever been.

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So how do other countries do it? We go to London, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Tokyo and New York - in search of some solutions for affordable housing. Take New York – where there’s an experiment underway that may be the world’s biggest housing development, with 15,000 apartments catering for up to 50,000 middle and lower income workers and seniors.

Or, Barcelona where locals priced out of the market are furious at cashed-up foreigners renting through sites like Airbnb. City authorities are cracking down on illegal landlords - who can cop fines of up to $100,000. Copenhagen has gone creative - How about an entire village made from shipping containers? Or carbon neutral apartments where you grow your own food?

Or a unique hybrid scheme where you buy equity at rock bottom price, then rent cheaply afterwards, right in the heart of the city? There is no silver bullet for our housing problems. But, niche ideas like tiny houses, canal boats and shipping containers, combined with a dose of brave public policy – can make a real difference.